Autoimmune conditions and NADPH oxidase defects

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to methods and materials involved in diagnosing and treating autoimmune conditions. In particular, the invention relates to methods and materials involved in diagnosing arthritis conditions that are accompanied by an NADPH oxidase deficiency, methods and materials involved in treating, preventing, or delaying the onset of arthritis conditions that are accompanied by an NADPH oxidase deficiency, and methods and materials involved in identifying agonists and antagonists of NADPH oxidase activity.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/380,904, filed May 13, 2002 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/429,609, filed Nov. 27, 2002.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The invention relates to methods and materials involved in diagnosing and treating autoimmune conditions. In particular, the invention relates to methods and materials involved in diagnosing arthritis conditions that are accompanied by an NADPH oxidase deficiency, methods and materials involved in treating, preventing, or delaying the onset of arthritis conditions that are accompanied by an NADPH oxidase deficiency, and methods and materials involved in identifying agonists and antagonists of NADPH oxidase activity.

2. Background Information

Autoimmune conditions are conditions where a mammal's immune system starts reacting against its own tissues. Such conditions include, without limitation, arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis (RA)), multiple sclerosis, lupus, autoimmune uveitis, type I diabetes, bronchial asthma, septic arthritis induced with staphylococci or streptococci, and cardiovascular disease involving vasculitis.

RA is a chronic inflammatory disease that can be found in about 1-2% of the population. RA primarily affects peripheral joints where inflammatory synovitis leads to cartilage destruction, bone erosion, and ultimately to joint deformity and loss of joint function. RA is a complex disease in that both environmental factors as well as multiple chromosomal regions are involved in susceptibility to RA. Inducers of arthritis in animal models include adjuvants, collagen (e.g., collagen type II) (collagen induced arthritis (CIA)), hexadecane (hexadecane induced arthritis (HIA)), oil (e.g., Freund's incomplete adjuvant), squalene (squalene induced arthritis (SIA), and pristane (pristane induced arthritis (PIA)). Chromosomal regions known to be associated with development of RA include the major histocompatibility complex region. In addition, different genomic regions are known to control different phases of the disease such as onset, severity during the acute onset phase, and the severity of the destruction in the chronic relapsing phase.

SUMMARY

The invention provides methods and materials related to diagnosing and treating autoimmune conditions such as arthritis (e.g., RA), multiple sclerosis, lupus, autoimmune uveitis, type I diabetes, bronchial asthma, septic arthritis induced with staphylococci or streptococci, and cardiovascular disease involving vasculitis. For example, the invention provides methods and materials involved in diagnosing autoimmune conditions that are accompanied by an NADPH oxidase deficiency, methods and materials involved in treating, preventing, and/or delaying the onset of autoimmune conditions that are accompanied by an NADPH oxidase deficiency, and methods and materials involved in identifying agonists and antagonists of NADPH oxidase activity. Autoimmune conditions that are accompanied by an NADPH oxidase deficiency include, without limitation, arthritis (e.g., RA), multiple sclerosis, lupus, autoimmune uveitis, type I diabetes, bronchial asthma, septic arthritis induced with staphylococci or streptococci, and cardiovascular disease involving vasculitis conditions that coexist with or are caused by a deficiency in NADPH oxidase activity. For the purpose of this invention, the term “arthritis accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency” (abbreviated “AANOD”) refers to any arthritis condition that coexists with or is caused by a deficiency in NADPH oxidase activity. Such a deficiency can be the complete lack of NADPH oxidase activity or a partial reduction in NADPH oxidase activity. For example, a mammal can have AANOD when that mammal has arthritis as well as cells that exhibit NADPH oxidase activity to an extent less than that normally exhibited by healthy mammals of the same species. Likewise, a mammal can have multiple sclerosis accompanied by an NADPH oxidase deficiency when that mammal has multiple sclerosis as well as cells that exhibit NADPH oxidase activity to an extent less than that normally exhibited by healthy mammals of the same species.

It is noted that the methods and materials for diagnosing and treating AANOD described herein can be used to diagnose and treat other autoimmune conditions that are accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency. For example, the methods and materials described herein can be used to diagnose and treat multiple sclerosis conditions that are accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency. In this regard, experimental allergic (autoimmune) encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a useful model for multiple sclerosis.

Diagnosing patients having an autoimmune condition accompanied by an NADPH oxidase deficiency (e.g., AANOD) can help clinicians determine appropriate treatments for those patients. For example, a clinician who diagnoses a patient as having AANOD can treat that patient with medication that improves both the patient's arthritis and NADPH oxidase deficiency. In some cases, a single medication can be used to improve a patient's level of NADPH oxidase activity such that the patient's arthritis symptoms are reduced or relieved. Thus, treating a patient having AANOD by modulating NADPH oxidase activities can improve that patient's health and quality of life by, for example, reducing the symptoms or severity of symptoms associated with arthritis, or delaying the onset of arthritis.

In addition, identifying agonists and antagonists of NADPH oxidase activity can help both clinicians and patients. For example, the methods and materials described herein can be used to identify agents that increase NADPH oxidase activity such that patients with an autoimmune condition accompanied by an NADPH oxidase deficiency (e.g., AANOD) can be treated successfully.

The invention is based on the discovery that arthritis can be associated with or caused by a reduced level of NADPH oxidase activity. For example, development of severe arthritis symptoms in an arthritis animal model can be, at least partially, dependent upon the presence of low NADPH oxidase activity. The invention also is based on the discovery that the reduced level of NADPH oxidase activity responsible for arthritis susceptibility can be caused by sequence variations (e.g., mutated phosphorylation sites) in a polypeptide component (e.g., P47PHOX polypeptide) of a mammal's NADPH oxidase enzyme. In addition, the invention is based on the discovery that mammals prone to develop arthritis can be protected by providing those mammals with normal levels of NADPH oxidase activity. For example, an animal model prone to develop severe arthritis symptoms can be rescued by providing that animal with a fully functional NADPH oxidase pathway.

In general, the invention features a method for assessing a mammal's susceptibility to develop an autoimmune condition (e.g., arthritis or multiple sclerosis), the method includes: (a) providing, from a mammal, a blood or synovial fluid sample containing a cell; (b) determining the level of NADPH oxidase activity of the cell after contacting the cell with an NADPH oxidase activator; (c) determining whether or not the level is less than a control level of NADPH oxidase activity, wherein the control level is the average amount of NADPH oxidase activity of control cells from a population of mammals without the autoimmune condition (e.g., non-arthritic mammals), and wherein the mammals without the autoimmune condition are from the same species as the mammal; and (d) identifying the mammal as being susceptible to develop the autoimmune condition when the level is less than the control level. The NADPH oxidase activator can be norfloxacin, phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol, arachidonic acid, phorbol myristate acetate, lysophosphatidylcholine, fMLP, pristane, phytol, octane, decane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, hexadecane, hexadecene, heptadecane, octadecane, galectin 1, or galectin 3. The level of NADPH oxidase activity can be determined by measuring superoxide or reactive oxygen species. The population can contain at least 10 mammals. Step (c) can include determining whether or not the level is between 5 and 75 percent less than the control level, wherein step (d) includes identifying the mammal as being susceptible to develop the autoimmune condition when the level is between 5 and 75 percent less than the control level. Step (c) can include determining whether or not the level is between 25 and 55 percent less than the control level, wherein step (d) includes identifying the mammal as being susceptible to develop the autoimmune condition when the level is between 25 and 55 percent less than the control level.

In another embodiment, the invention features a method for assessing a mammal's susceptibility to develop an autoimmune condition (e.g., arthritis or multiple sclerosis), the method containing: (a) providing, from a mammal, a blood or synovial fluid sample; (b) determining the level of a blood or synovial fluid component that reflects NADPH oxidase activity; (c) determining whether or not the level is less than a control level, wherein the control level is the average amount of the component in control samples from a population of mammals without the autoimmune condition (e.g., non-arthritic mammals), and wherein the mammals without the autoimmune condition are from the same species as the mammal; and (d) identifying the mammal as being susceptible to develop the autoimmune condition when the level is less than the control level. The component that reflects NADPH oxidase activity can be malonic dialdehyde.

Another embodiment of the invention features a method for assessing a mammal's susceptibility to develop an autoimmune condition (e.g., arthritis or multiple sclerosis), the method containing determining whether or not a mammal contains a genetic variant of the gene encoding a polypeptide that functions in the NADPH oxidase pathway, where the presence of the genetic variant indicates that the mammal is susceptible to develop the autoimmune condition. The genetic variant can encode a mutant polypeptide. The mutant polypeptide can be a GP91PHOX polypeptide, P22PHOX polypeptide, P40PHOX polypeptide, P47PHOX polypeptide, or P67PHOX polypeptide. For example, the mutant polypeptide can be a P47PHOX polypeptide. The mammal can be a human, and the mutant P47PHOX polypeptide can contain the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6 with at least two amino acid substitutions. The mutant P47PHOX polypeptide can contain an amino acid sequence having an amino acid residue other than valine at the position that aligns with position 106 of SEQ ID NO:4 or an amino acid residue other than threonine at the position that aligns with position 153 of SEQ ID NO:4. The genetic variant can contain a mutation in a regulatory sequence of the gene.

Another embodiment of the invention features a method for diagnosing an autoimmune condition accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency (e.g., AANOD or multiple sclerosis accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency) in a mammal having an autoimmune condition, the method containing: (a) providing, from the mammal, a sample containing a cell; (b) determining the level of NADPH oxidase activity of the cell after contacting the cell with an NADPH oxidase activator; (c) determining whether or not the level is less than a control level of NADPH oxidase activity, wherein the control level is the average amount of NADPH oxidase activity of control cells from a population of mammals without the autoimmune condition (e.g., non-arthritic mammals), and wherein the mammals without the autoimmune condition are from the same species as the mammal; and (d) identifying the mammal as having the autoimmune condition associated by NADPH oxidase deficiency when the level is less than the control level. The NADPH oxidase activator can be norfloxacin, phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol, arachidonic acid, phorbol myristate acetate, lysophosphatidylcholine, fMLP, pristane, phytol, octane, decane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, hexadecane, hexadecene, heptadecane, octadecane, galectin 1, or galectin 3. The level of NADPH oxidase activity can be determined by measuring superoxide or reactive oxygen species. The population can contain at least ten mammals without the autoimmune condition. Step (c) can include determining whether or not the level is between 5 and 75 percent less than the control level, wherein step (d) includes identifying the mammal as being susceptible to develop the autoimmune condition associated by NADPH oxidase deficiency when the level is between 5 and 75 percent less than the control level. Step (c) can include determining whether or not the level is between 25 and 55 percent less than the control level, wherein step (d) includes identifying the mammal as being susceptible to develop the autoimmune condition associated by NADPH oxidase deficiency when the level is between 25 and 55 percent less than the control level.

Another embodiment of the invention features a method for diagnosing an autoimmune condition associated by NADPH oxidase deficiency (e.g., AANOD or multiple sclerosis accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency) in a mammal having an autoimmune condition, the method containing: (a) providing, from the mammal, a blood or synovial fluid sample; (b) determining the level of a blood or synovial fluid component that reflects NADPH oxidase activity; (c) determining whether or not the level is less than a control level, wherein the control level is the average amount of the component in control samples from a population of mammals without the autoimmune condition (e.g., non-arthritic mammals), and wherein the mammals without the autoimmune condition are from the same species as the mammal; and (d) identifying the mammal as having the autoimmune condition associated by NADPH oxidase deficiency when the level is less than the control level.

Another embodiment of the invention features a method for diagnosing an autoimmune condition accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency (e.g., AANOD or multiple sclerosis accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency) in a mammal having an autoimmune condition, the method includes: (a) providing a blood or synovial fluid sample from the mammal; (b) determining the level of a blood or synovial fluid component that reflects NADPH oxidase activity; (c) determining whether or not the level is less than a control level of NADPH oxidase activity, wherein the control level is the average amount of NADPH oxidase activity of control cells from a population of mammals without the autoimmune condition, and wherein the mammals without the autoimmune condition are from the same species as the mammal; and (d) identifying the mammal as having the autoimmune condition accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency when the level is less than the control level. The component that reflects NADPH oxidase activity can be malonic dialdehyde.

Another embodiment of the invention features a method for diagnosing an autoimmune condition accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency (e.g., AANOD or multiple sclerosis accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency) in a mammal having an autoimmune condition, the method including determining whether or not the mammal contains a genetic variant of the gene encoding a polypeptide that functions in the NADPH oxidase pathway, wherein the presence of the genetic variant indicates that the mammal has the autoimmune condition accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency. The genetic variant can encode a mutant polypeptide. The mutant polypeptide can be a GP91PHOX polypeptide, P22PHOX polypeptide, P40PHOX polypeptide, P47PHOX polypeptide, or P67PHOX polypeptide. For example, the mutant polypeptide can be a P47PHOX polypeptide. The mammal can be a human, and the mutant P47PHOX polypeptide can contain the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6 with at least two amino acid substitutions. The mutant P47PHOX polypeptide can contain an amino acid sequence having an amino acid residue other than valine at the position that aligns with position 106 of SEQ ID NO:4 or an amino acid residue other than threonine at the position that aligns with position 153 of SEQ ID NO:4. The genetic variant can contain a mutation in a regulatory sequence of the gene.

In another aspect, the invention features a method for treating a mammal having an autoimmune condition accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency (e.g., AANOD or multiple sclerosis accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency), the method including administering, to the animal, an agent that enhances NADPH oxidase activity. The agent can be norfloxacin, phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol, arachidonic acid, phorbol myristate acetate, lysophosphatidylcholine, fMLP, pristane, phytol, octane, decane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, hexadecane, heptadecane, octadecane, galectin 1, or galectin 3. Alternatively, the agent can be a more polar derivative of the afore-mentioned compounds. For example, the agent can be an alkene derivative of the afore-mentioned compounds (e.g., undecene, hexadecene), or an acid derivative of the afore-mentioned compounds. In one embodiment, hexadecene is used. In another embodiment, undecane is used. The agent may be administered intra dermally, intra-peritoneally, or intranasally.

In another embodiment, the invention features the use of an agent in the manufacture of a medicament to treat an autoimmune condition accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency (e.g., AANOD or multiple sclerosis accompanied by NADPH oxidase deficiency), wherein the agent enhances NADPH oxidase activity in a mammal. The agent can be norfloxacin, phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol, arachidonic acid, phorbol myristate acetate, lysophosphatidylcholine, fMLP, pristane, phytol, octane, decane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, hexadecane, heptadecane, octadecane, galectin 1, or galectin 3. Alternatively, the agent can be a more polar derivative of the afore-mentioned compounds. For example, the agent can be an alkene derivative of the afore-mentioned compounds (e.g., undecene, hexadecene), or an acid derivative of the afore-mentioned compounds. In one embodiment, hexadecene is used. In another embodiment, undecane is used.

Another embodiment of the invention features a method of formulating a medicament for the treatment of an autoimmune condition, the method including: (a) contacting a sample comprising cells or a cellular fraction having NADPH activity with a test agent, (b) determining the level of NADPH oxidase activity in the sample, (c) determining whether or not the level is greater than a control level of NADPH oxidase activity, wherein the control level is the amount of NADPH oxidase activity in a control sample lacking the test agent, (d) identifying the test agent as an agent useful for treatment of the autoimmune condition when the level of NADPH oxidase activity is greater than the control level, and (e) formulating a medicament from the agent for the treatment of the autoimmune condition. The autoimmune condition can be arthritis or multiple sclerosis.

Another aspect of the invention features a method for identifying an agent that activates NADPH oxidase activity in a cell, wherein the cell is from a non-human animal susceptible to arthritis induction, the method containing determining whether or not the level of NADPH oxidase activity increases in the cell after the cell is treated with a test agent, wherein an increase in the level indicates that the test agent activates NADPH oxidase activity. The cell can be a cell from a DA rat. The cell can be a lymphocyte. The non-human animal can be susceptible to pristane induced arthritis, or collagen induced arthritis, or adjuvant induced arthritis, or oil induced arthritis, or hexadecane induced arthritis, or squalene induced arthritis, or avridine induced arthritis. The level of NADPH oxidase activity can be determined by measuring superoxide or reactive oxygen species, e.g., as with a cytochrome C assay or WST-1 assay or a flow cytometer (e.g., FASC) based assay using, e.g., dihydrorodamine 123 (DHR-123).

In another embodiment, the invention features a method for identifying an agent useful in the treatment of an autoimmune condition, the method including: (a) contacting a sample comprising cells or a cellular fraction having NADPH activity with a test agent, (b) determining the level of NADPH oxidase activity in the sample, (c) determining whether or not the level is greater than a control level of NADPH oxidase activity, wherein the control level is the amount of NADPH oxidase activity in a control sample lacking the test agent, and (d) identifying the test agent as an agent useful for treatment of the autoimmune condition when the level of NADPH oxidase activity is greater than the control level. The autoimmune condition can be arthritis or multiple sclerosis.

In another embodiment, the invention features a method for identifying an agent useful in the treatment of an autoimmune condition, the method including: (a) contacting a sample comprising cells or a cellular fraction having NADPH activity with a test agent, (b) contacting the sample with an NADPH oxidase activator, (c) determining the level of NADPH oxidase activity in the sample, (d) determining whether or not said level is greater than a control level of NADPH oxidase activity, wherein the control level is the amount of NADPH oxidase activity in a control sample treated with the activator in the absence of the test agent, and (e) identifying the test agent as an agent useful for treatment of the autoimmune condition when the level of NADPH oxidase activity is greater than the control level. The autoimmune condition can be arthritis or multiple sclerosis.

In another embodiment, the invention features a method for identifying an agent that enhances NADPH oxidase activity in a cell, wherein the cell is from a non-human animal susceptible to arthritis induction, the method including: (a) contacting the cell with an NADPH oxidase activator and a test agent to form a test cell; (b) determining the level of NADPH oxidase activity in the test cell; (c) determining whether or not the level is greater than a control level of NADPH oxidase activity, wherein the control level is the amount of NADPH oxidase activity in a control cell treated with the activator in the absence of the test agent; and (d) identifying the agent as enhancing NADPH oxidase activity when the level is greater than the control level. The cell can be a cell from a DA rat. The cell can be a lymphocyte. The non-human animal can be susceptible to pristane induced arthritis or collagen induced arthritis, or adjuvant induced arthritis, or oil induced arthritis, or hexadecane induced arthritis, or squalene induced arthritis, or avridine induced arthritis. The NADPH oxidase activator can be norfloxacin, phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol, arachidonic acid, phorbol myristate acetate, lysophosphatidylcholine, fMLP, pristane, phytol, octane, decane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, hexadecane, hexadecene, heptadecane, octadecane, galectin 1, or galectin 3. The level of NADPH oxidase activity can be determined by measuring superoxide or reactive oxygen species, e.g., by a cytochrome C or WST-1 assay or a flow cytometer (e.g., FASC) based assay using, e.g., dihydrorodamine 123 (DHR-123).

In another embodiment, the invention features a method for identifying an agent that inhibits NADPH oxidase activity in a cell, wherein the cell is from a non-human animal susceptible to arthritis induction, the method containing: (a) contacting the cell with an NADPH oxidase activator and a test agent to form a test cell; (b) determining the level of NADPH oxidase activity in the test cell; (c) determining whether or not the level is less than a control level of NADPH oxidase activity, wherein the control level is the amount of NADPH oxidase activity in a control cell treated with the activator in the absence of the test agent; and (d) identifying the agent as inhibiting NADPH oxidase activity when the level is less than the control level. The cell can be a cell from a DA rat. The cell can be a lymphocyte. The non-human animal can be susceptible to pristane induced arthritis, or collagen induced arthritis, or oil induced arthritis, or hexadecane induced arthritis, squalene induced arthritis, or avridine induced arthritis. The NADPH oxidase activator can be norfloxacin, phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol, arachidonic acid, phorbol myristate acetate, lysophosphatidylcholine, fMLP, pristane, phytol, octane, decane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, hexadecane, hexadecene, heptadecane, octadecane, galectin 1, or galectin 3. The level of NADPH oxidase activity can be determined by measuring superoxide or reactive oxygen species.

In another embodiment, the invention features a method for identifying an agent that modulates T-cell activation (e.g., reduces or enhances T-cell activation), the method including: (a) determining whether or not a test agent increases NADPH oxidase activity; and (b) classifying the test agent as an agent that reduces T-cell activation when the test agent increases NADPH oxidase activity.

Another aspect of the invention features a rat congenic to a second rat, wherein at least one locus differs genetically between the rat and the second rat, wherein the second rat is susceptible to arthritis induction, wherein the rat contains T-cells from the second rat, and wherein the rat has arthritis. The rat can be a DA.E3c12−/− rat. The second rat can be a DA rat. The at least one locus can contain nucleic acid that encodes a P47PHOX polypeptide. In some embodiments, no more than one locus can differ genetically between the rat and the second rat. In those cases, the locus can contain nucleic acid that encodes a P47PHOX polypeptide.

Another aspect of the invention features a nonhuman mammal having a deficient NADPH oxidase pathway, where the nonhuman mammal exhibits symptoms of an autoimmune disease. The autoimmune disease may be arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, autoimmune uveitis, type I diabetes, bronchial asthma, septic arthritis induced with staphylococci or streptococci, or cardiovascular disease involving vasculitis. For example, the nonhuman animal may exhibit symptoms of arthritis. The arthritis may be adjuvant induced arthritis, collagen induced arthritis, pristane induced arthritis, hexadecane induced arthritis, avridine induced arthritis, or squalene induced arthritis, or oil induced arthritis. The deficient NADPH oxidase pathway may be indicated by a reduced NADPH oxidase activity. The reduced NADPH oxidase activity may be a result of a mutant polypeptide where the mutant polypeptide functions in the NADPH oxidase pathway. For example, the mutant polypeptide may be a GP91PHOX polypeptide, P22PHOX polypeptide, P40PHOX polypeptide, P47PHOX polypeptide, or P67PHOX polypeptide. For example, the mutant polypeptide can be a P47PHOX polypeptide. The mutant P47PHOX polypeptide can contain the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6 with at least two amino acid substitutions. The mutant P47PHOX polypeptide can contain an amino acid sequence having an amino acid residue other than valine at the position that aligns with position 106 of SEQ ID NO:4 or an amino acid residue other than threonine at the position that aligns with position 153 of SEQ ID NO:4. In other embodiments, the reduced NADPH oxidase activity may be a result of a deletion of the gene or locus encoding Ncfl (p47phox). The deletion may be heterozygous or homozygous in the nonhuman mammal. The nonhuman mammal may be a mouse.

In another embodiment, the invention features a method of screening an agent to determine if the agent delays the onset of arthritis. The method includes: (a) providing a nonhuman mammal having a deficient NADPH oxidase pathway; (b) administering to the nonhuman mammal the agent; (c) inducing arthritis in the nonhuman mammal; and (d) determining if the agent delays the onset of arthritis in the nonhuman mammal. The deficient NADPH oxidase pathway may be as described previously. Determining if the agent delays the onset of arthritis may include steps such as: (a) determining a day of onset of arthritis value for the nonhuman mammal; and (b) comparing the day of onset of arthritis value for the nonhuman mammal with a control day of onset of arthritis value. The control day of onset of arthritis value may be determined by determining a day of onset of arthritis value for a control nonhuman mammal to which the agent has not been administered. The day of onset of arthritis in the nonhuman mammal may be considered delayed if it is later than the control day of onset value. The induced arthritis may be adjuvant induced arthritis, collagen induced arthritis, pristane induced arthritis, hexadecane induced arthritis, avridine induced arthritis, squalene induced arthritis, and/or oil induced arthritis.

Another method of the invention includes screening an agent to determine if the agent treats arthritis. The method includes (a) providing a nonhuman mammal having a deficient NADPH oxidase pathway, where the nonhuman mammal exhibits symptoms of an arthritis (e.g., adjuvant induced arthritis, collagen induced arthritis, pristane induced arthritis, hexadecane induced arthritis, avridine induced arthritis, squalene induced arthritis, or oil induced arthritis); (b) administering to the nonhuman mammal the agent; and (c) determining if the agent treats arthritis in the nonhuman mammal. Such a determining step may involve (a) calculating an arthritis score in the nonhuman mammal; and (b) comparing the arthritis score with a control arthritis score. The control arthritis score may be determined by calculating an arthritis score for a control nonhuman mammal to which the agent has not been administered. The agent may be determined to treat arthritis if the arthritis score in the nonhuman animal is less than the control arthritis score.

In another embodiment, a method of screening an agent to determine if the agent prevents arthritis is provided. The method includes: (a) providing a nonhuman mammal having a deficient NADPH oxidase pathway; (b) administering to the nonhuman mammal the agent; (c) administering a compound known to induce arthritis to the nonhuman mammal; and (d) determining if the agent prevents arthritis induced by the compound in the nonhuman mammal. Determining if the agent prevents arthritis may include evaluating said nonhuman mammal for symptoms of arthritis. Such an evaluation may occur for a period of time, e.g., for up to 20 days, up to 30 days, up to 50 days, or up to 70 days. Determining if the agent prevents arthritis may include comparing any symptoms of arthritis and their day of onset with the symptoms and day of onset of a control nonhuman mammal to which said agent has not been administered. The compound known to induce arthritis may be an adjuvant, collagen, pristane, hexadecane, avridine, squalene, and/or oil. Collagen may be type II collagen; the oil may be incomplete Freund's adjuvant; and the adjuvant may be mycobaterial-derived.

In another embodiment, a method for identifying an agent that inhibits NADPH oxidase activity in a lymphocyte, wherein the lymphocyte is from a DA rat. The method includes: (a) contacting the lymphocyte with PMA and a test agent to form a test cell; (b) determining the level of NADPH oxidase activity in the test cell by measuring superoxide; (c) determining whether or not the level is less than a control level of NADPH oxidase activity, wherein the control level is the amount of NADPH oxidase activity in a control cell treated with the PMA in the absence of the test agent; and (d) identifying the agent as inhibiting NADPH oxidase activity when the level is less than the control level.

In another embodiment, a non-DA rat comprising heterologous T-cells from a non-human animal susceptible to arthritis induction, wherein the non-DA rat has arthritis. The rat can be an E3 rat. The non-human animal can be a DA rat.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph comparing the mean clinical arthritis scores determined at day 10, 14, 19, 24, and 28 after pristane injection of DA rats, DA.E3chr12+/− rats, and DA.E3chr12−/− rats.

FIG. 2 is a physical map of the Pia4 region constructed using PAC clones and EST clones.

FIG. 3 is an alignment of the E3 (SEQ ID NO: 3) and DA (SEQ ID NO: 1) p47phox cDNA sequences amplified from the RNA of E3 and DA rats.

FIG. 4 is a set of bar graphs demonstrating that plasma levels of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP; FIG. 4A) and α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP; FIG. 4B) were significantly lower in DA.E3chr12 congenic rats than in DA littermate control rats (p<0.005).

FIG. 5 is a set of absorbance curves illustrating production of reactive oxygen species in a DA rat (FIG. 5A), an E3 rat (FIG. 5B), a DA.E3c12+/− rat (FIG. 5C), and a DA.E3c12−/− rat (FIG. 5D).

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating increased severity of arthritis in rats treated with an NADPH inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI).

FIG. 7 is a bar graph illustrating that rats treated with DPI had greater accumulated arthritis scores than control rats.

FIG. 8 is a bar graph illustrating that transfer of Conconavalin A (ConA) activated T-cells from a DA rat gave rise to severe arthritis in DA littermate control rats (DA), in DA.E3chr12+/− rats (HET), and in DA.E3chr12−/− rats (E3).

FIG. 9 is a set of graphs showing the activation of the oxidative burst from rat E3 peritoneal cells (FIG. 9A) and HL60 cells (FIG. 9B) after treatment with alkanes in vitro. The oxidative burst is measured with the WST-1 assay.

FIG. 10 is a set of graphs demonstrating the arthritis inducing effects of alkanes 12-31 days after administration. FIG. 10A demonstrates the Mean score; FIG. 10B demonstrates the Additive score; and FIG. 10C demonstrates the Maximum score according to the extended scoring system described herein after injection of the alkanes intradermally at the base of the tail.

FIG. 11 is a set of graphs demonstrating the severity of PIA in DA rats treated with undecane or undecanol at varying time points. FIG. 11A demonstrates the Mean score; FIG. 11B demonstrates the Additive score; and FIG. 11C demonstrates the Maximum score.

FIG. 12 is a set of graphs demonstrating the severity of hexadecane induced arthritis after treatment with hexadecene on day −5 or day +5. FIG. 12A demonstrates the Mean score; FIG. 12B demonstrates the Additive score; and FIG. 12C demonstrates the Maximum score.

FIG. 13 is a bar graph demonstrating the severity of arthritis in rats treated with radioactively-labeled oils.

FIG. 14 is a bar graph illustrating the tissue distribution of 14C-labeled oils at 10, 20, and 30 days post-injection. The activity was measured in a β-counter for one minute. Note that LN=lymph nodes.

FIG. 15 is a bar graph illustrating the distribution of [1-14C]-hexadecane to the lymph nodes as measured in a β-counter (Beckman) for one minute.

FIG. 16 is a set of bar graphs demonstrating the effect of phytol on the development of EAE in DA rats treated with phytol on day −10, −5 or day +5. FIG. 16A demonstrates the Additive score; FIG. 16B demonstrates the Maximum score. Olive oil was used as a control.

FIG. 17 is a set of graphs demonstrating the effect of phytol treatment on development of PIA with different routes of phytol administration. FIG. 17A demonstrates the Mean score; FIG. 17B demonstrates the additive score; and FIG. 17C demonstrates the Maximum score.

FIG. 18 is a set of graphs illustrating the onset of CIA in Ncfl (p47phox) deficient mice, both homozygous and heterozygous, as compared to B10.Q mice. FIG. 18A demonstrates the Mean score; FIG. 18B demonstrates the Maximum score; and FIG. 18C demonstrates the Additive score.

FIG. 19 is a bar graph showing the mean day of onset of CIA in Ncfl deficient mice, both homozygous and heterozygous, as compared to B10.Q mice.

FIG. 20 is a bar graph showing the serum COMP levels in Ncfl deficient mice, both homozygous and heterozygous, as compared to B10.Q mice following induction of CIA by injection of rat CII.

FIG. 21 is a bar graph showing the levels of anti collagen antibodies in Ncfl deficient mice, both homozygous and heterozygous, as compared to B10.Q mice following induction of CIA by injection of rat CII.

FIG. 22 is a graph demonstrating the effect of phytol treatment of CIA using different routes of administration.

FIG. 23 is a set of graphs demonstrating the effect of treatment of active PIA using different active agents and routes of administration. 200 μL of either phytol (FIG. 23A) or undecane (FIG. 23B) were administered at day 21 and day 26.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention provides methods and materials related to diagnosing and treating autoimmune conditions (e.g., arthritis). Specifically, the invention provides methods and materials involved in diagnosing mammals susceptible to arthritis and mammals having AANOD. In addition, the invention provides methods and materials involved in treating mammals susceptible to arthritis and mammals having AANOD. Further, the invention provides methods and materials involved in identifying agonists and antagonists of NADPH oxidase activity.

1. Diagnosing Mammals Susceptible to Arthritis

The invention provides methods for assessing a mammal's susceptibility to developing arthritis. The mammal can be a human, monkey, goat, horse, cow, pig, dog, cat, mouse, or rat. Briefly, a mammal's susceptibility to developing arthritis can be determined by examining the level of NADPH oxidase activity present within the mammal's cells. This level of NADPH oxidase activity then can be compared with a control level, and the mammal can be classified as being susceptible to developing arthritis if the level of NADPH oxidase in the mammal's cells is lower than the control level as further described below.

The level of NADPH oxidase activity in a mammal's cells can be determined using any known method. For example, NADPH oxidase activity can be assessed by measuring the amount of reactive oxygen species generated. As used herein, the term “reactive oxygen species” includes, without limitation, partially reduced species of oxygen such as superoxide ion (O₂ ^(−*)), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hydroxyl radical (OH*) and hydroxide ion. The amount of reactive oxygen species generated can be measured using standard methods such as those that involve measuring cytochrome C reduction, lucigenin luminescence, luminol-luminescence, and DCFDA fluorescence. Alternatively, the level of NADPH oxidase activity in a mammal's cells can be determined by measuring the level of components known to reflect NADPH oxidase activity. Such components include, without limitation, circulating malonic dialdehyde.

After determining the level of NADPH oxidase activity present within the mammal's cells, this level of NADPH oxidase activity can be compared with a control level of NADPH oxidase activity for that particular species. The control level of NADPH oxidase activity for a particular species is the average level of NADPH oxidase activity measured in cells from a population of healthy members from that particular species. In the case of humans, the control level of NADPH oxidase activity can be the average level of NADPH oxidase activity in cells from 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or more healthy humans. If the level of NADPH oxidase activity in a mammal's cells is lower than the control level, then the mammal can be classified as being susceptible to arthritis. For example, a mammal having an NADPH oxidase activity that is no more than about 85 (e.g., no more than 75, 65, 55, 45, 35, 25, 15, 5, or less) percent of the control level can be classified as being susceptible to arthritis.

Alternatively, a mammal (e.g., human) having impaired NADPH oxidase activity can be classified as being susceptible to arthritis. For example, a human having impaired NADPH oxidase activity such that a sample of about 1×10⁶ granulocytes from that human exhibits less than 0.3 to 0.4 absorbance units (550 nm) of cytochrome C reduction after about 7 minutes of treatment with 0.01 μM fMLP can be classified as being susceptible to arthritis. In one embodiment, a human having cells with no more than about 85 (e.g., no more than 75, 65, 55, 45, 35, 25, 15, 5, or less) percent of this level of activity is classified as being susceptible to arthritis. The cells can be treated with activators other than fMLP such as agents that affect cellular signaling by modulating phosphorylation (e.g., PMA), agents that destabilize cell membranes (e.g., pristane, squalene, phytol, and hexadecane), and agents that bind cell surface receptors (e.g., galectin 1 and galectin 3).

Any type of sample can be used to determine the level of NADPH oxidase activity in a mammal's cells. For example, the sample can be blood, synovial fluid, or lymph fluid containing cells (e.g., PBMCs) having NADPH oxidase activity. Cells having NADPH oxidase activity include, without limitation, macrophages, neutrophils, granulocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and mononuclear cells. Standard methods can be used to obtain such samples from the mammal. For example, a blood sample can be obtained by venous puncture. The sample can be subjected to any necessary standard preparatory procedures before assessing NADPH oxidase activity. For example, a blood sample containing cells can be subjected to centrifugation and/or washing steps to isolate cells from which the level of NADPH oxidase activity can be measured.

In another embodiment, a mammal's susceptibility to developing arthritis can be determined by examining at least a portion of the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide within the mammal's NADPH oxidase pathway. Such polypeptides include, without limitation, GP91PHOX polypeptides, P22PHOX polypeptides, P40PHOX polypeptides, P47PHOX polypeptides, and P67PHOX polypeptides. For example, the amino acid sequence of the mammal's P47PHOX polypeptide can be determined. Any method can be used to determine the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide. For example, standard amino acid sequencing techniques can be used to determine the amino acid sequence of a purified P47PHOX polypeptide preparation. Alternatively, the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide can be sequenced using standard nucleic acid sequencing techniques. Once the nucleic acid sequence is determined, the amino acid sequence of the encoded polypeptide can be deduced.

After determining at least a portion (e.g., about 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 percent) of the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide within the mammal's NADPH oxidase pathway, that amino acid sequence can be compared to the amino acid sequence of a comparable reference polypeptide that functions in the NADPH oxidase pathway such that at least about 70 percent (e.g., at least about 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 99 percent) of maximal NADPH oxidase activity is observed. For example, the amino acid sequence of a mammal's P47PHOX polypeptide can be compared to the amino acid sequence of a P47PHOX polypeptide that allows a cell to exhibit at least about 70 percent of maximal NADPH oxidase activity. Likewise, the amino acid sequence of a mammal's GP91PHOX polypeptide can be compared to the amino acid sequence of a GP91PHOX polypeptide that allows a cell to exhibit at least about 70 percent of maximal NADPH oxidase activity.

The term “maximal NADPH oxidase activity” as used herein refers to the average maximum level of NADPH oxidase activity measured in cells from healthy members of a particular species. For example, in rats, the maximal NADPH oxidase activity when measuring superoxide release from about 5×10⁶ peritoneal neutrophils using cytochrome C reduction can be 0.15-0.25 absorbance (550 nm) units at about 1000 seconds following stimulation with PMA. The cells can be treated with activators other than PMA such as fMLP, agents that destabilize cell membranes (e.g., pristane, squalene, phytol, and hexadecane), and agents that bind cell surface receptors (e.g., galectin 1 and galectin 3). Since cells from E3 rats exhibit at least about 70 percent of this activity, the amino acid sequences of polypeptides that function in the NADPH oxidase pathway of the E3 rat can be used as reference polypeptides. For example, a rat's amino acid sequence of a P47PHOX polypeptide can be compared to the amino acid sequence of the P47PHOX polypeptide of E3 rats, which is set forth in SEQ ID NO:4. In humans, the maximal NADPH oxidase activity when measuring superoxide release from about 1×10⁶ granulocytes using cytochrome C reduction can be 0.3 to 0.4 absorbance (550 nm) units about 7 minutes following stimulation with 0.01 μM of fMLP. Thus, polypeptides that function in the NADPH oxidase pathway of human cells that exhibit at least 70 percent of that activity can be used as reference polypeptides. When assessing a human's P47PHOX polypeptide, the human P47PHOX polypeptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6 can be used as a reference polypeptide.

If the mammal being tested contains a mutant polypeptide when compared to a comparable reference polypeptide, then that mammal can be classified as being susceptible to developing arthritis. The mutant polypeptide can be a polypeptide that contains amino acid additions, subtractions, substitutions, or combinations thereof when compared to the sequence of a comparable reference polypeptide. For example, a mutant polypeptide can be a polypeptide having any number of amino acid differences (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, or more amino acid additions, subtractions, or substitutions) when compared to a comparable reference polypeptide. Thus, in one embodiment, a human can be classified as being susceptible to developing arthritis if that human contains a P47PHOX polypeptide having an amino acid sequence with one or more (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or more) amino acid substitutions when compared to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6. Alternatively, a human can be classified as being susceptible to developing arthritis if that human contains a P47PHOX polypeptide having an amino acid sequence with an amino acid residue other than valine at the position that aligns with position 106 of SEQ ID NO:4.

In addition, a mutant polypeptide can be a polypeptide lacking one or more phosphorylation sites. Typically, phosphorylation sites are serine, threonine, or tyrosine residues. Thus, a polypeptide lacking one or more serine, threonine, or tyrosine residues when compared to a comparable reference polypeptide can be a mutant polypeptide. In one embodiment, a human can be classified as being susceptibility to develop arthritis if that human contains a P47PHOX polypeptide having an amino acid sequence lacking one or more (e.g., more than 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10) of the serine, threonine, or tyrosine residues when compared to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6. Alternatively, a human can be classified as being susceptible to developing arthritis if that human contains a P47PHOX polypeptide having an amino acid sequence with an amino acid residue other than threonine at the position that aligns with position 153 of SEQ ID NO: 4.

In addition to using the presence of a mutant polypeptide to determine whether or not a particular mammal is susceptible to arthritis, the regulatory sequences (e.g., promoters, enhancers, and silencers) that control the expression of a polypeptide that functions in the NADPH oxidase pathway can be examined. For example, the promoter sequences that control P47PHOX polypeptide expression can be compared to those promoter sequences that drive normal P47PHOX polypeptide expression in healthy humans. In this case, a human having a mutated regulatory promoter sequence can be classified as being susceptible to developing arthritis.

2. Diagnosing Mammals having AANOD

The invention provides methods for determining whether a mammal has a particular type of arthritis. Specifically, a mammal can be diagnosed as having AANOD if that mammal has (1) clinical symptoms of arthritis and (2) cells having a level of NADPH oxidase activity that is either lower than a control value or impaired. In addition, a mammal can be diagnosed as having AANOD if that mammal has (1) clinical symptoms of arthritis and (2) a polypeptide that functions in the NADPH oxidase pathway and that contains a mutation when compared to a comparable reference polypeptide as described herein.

Clinical symptoms of arthritis include, without limitation, inflammation of tendons, ligaments, joints, or bones. Symptoms of arthritis also include pain, swelling, and stiffness in the limbs that can lead to weakness, loss of mobility, and deformity in the mammal. Examples of arthritis include, without limitation, bacterial arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), hexadecane-induced arthritis (HIA), pristane-induced arthritis (PIA), avridine-induced arthritis, adjuvant induced arthritis, squalene-induced arthritis (SIA), and oil-induced arthritis (OIA).

The level of NADPH oxidase activity within a mammal's cells can be assessed as described herein. Likewise, the methods and materials described herein can be used to determine whether or not a mammal contains a mutant polypeptide that functions in the NADPH oxidase pathway.

3. Treating Arthritis

The invention provides methods and materials for treating arthritis (e.g., AANOD) in a mammal. Methods for treating arthritis such as AANOD include administering an agent that increases the level of NADPH oxidase activity in the mammal. For example, an agent that increases a cell's production of reactive oxygen species can be administered to a mammal with arthritis. Such agents include, without limitation, norfloxacin, phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol, arachidonic acid, phorbol myristate acetate, lysophosphatidylcholine, fMLP, octane, decane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, hexadecane, heptadecane, octadecane; agents that destabilize cell membranes (e.g., pristane, squalene, phytol, and hexadecane), and agents that bind cell surface receptors (e.g., galectin 1 and galectin 3). Alternatively, the agent can be a more polar derivative of the afore-mentioned compounds. For example, the agent can be an alkene derivative of the afore-mentioned compounds (e.g., undecene, hexadecene), or an acid derivative of the afore-mentioned compounds. In one embodiment, hexadecene is used. In another embodiment, undecane is used.

Agents that increase NADPH oxidase activity can be administered in any standard form using any standard method. For example, agents that increase NADPH oxidase activity can be in the form of tablets or capsules (e.g., time-release capsules) that are taken orally. Alternatively, the agents can be in a liquid form and can be taken orally or by injection. The agents also can be in the form of suppositories. Further, agents that increase NADPH oxidase activity can be in the form of creams, gels, and foams that can be applied to the skin. In addition, the agents can in the form of an inhalant that is applied nasally. The agent may be administered intra-dermally, intra-peritoneally, or intra-nasally.

Agents that increase NADPH oxidase activity can be administered at any dose that is sufficient to increase NADPH oxidase activity in cells that have low activity. Such doses can be taken over a period of years to prevent and/or delay the progression arthritis or to reverse the progression of arthritis. Doses can be selected based on the effectiveness and toxicity of the particular agent using standard pharmacology techniques.

4. Identifying Agent that Modify NADPH Oxidase Activity

The invention provides methods and materials for identifying agents that modulate NADPH oxidase activity. Agents that modulate NADPH oxidase activity can increase or decrease NADPH oxidase activity. Examples of agents that increase NADPH oxidase activity include, without limitation, norfloxacin, phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol, arachidonic acid, phorbol myristate acetate, lysophosphatidylcholine, fMLP, octane, decane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, hexadecane, heptadecane, octadecane; agents that destabilize cell membranes (e.g., pristane, squalene, phytol, and hexadecane), and agents that bind cell surface receptors (e.g., galectin 1 and galectin 3). Examples of agents that decrease NADPH oxidase activity include, without limitation, diphenylene iodonium, phenols, apocynin, quinone, haem ligands, piroxicam, B220 (2,3-dimethyl-6(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-6H-indolo-(2,3-b)quinoxaline), lidocaine, gliotoxin, hydrocortisone, OPC-6535 (6-[2-(3,4-diethoxyphenyl)thiazol-4-yl]-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid), and cromolyn.

To identify agents that increase or decrease NADPH oxidase activity, a test agent can be mixed with a sample containing cells or cellular fractions having NADPH oxidase activity. Such cells can be from humans (e.g., healthy humans or arthritis patients) or non-human animals (e.g., healthy non-human animals or non-human animals susceptible to arthritis such as those susceptible to arthritis induction.) An animal is susceptible to arthritis induction if that animal develops an arthritis condition in response to treatment with an inducing agent (e.g., collagen or pristane). Such animals include those susceptible to CIA, PIA, HIA, SIA, and OIA. The non-human animal can be any type of animal including, without limitation, monkeys (e.g., chimpanzees), horses, goats, cows, pigs, and rodents (e.g., mice and rats).

An example of a non-human animal that is susceptible to arthritis is a rat that is susceptible to PIA such as the DA rat. A rat can be identified as a member of the DA strain (or any strain of interest) using standard methods. For example, standard nucleic acid sequencing techniques can be used to compare genomic or mitochondrial nucleic acid sequences including, without limitation, (1) microsatellite sequences, (2) nucleic acid sequences encoding major histocompatibility complexes, or (3) nucleic acid sequences encoding 18S ribosomal RNA. Comparing nucleic acid sequence from two animals can be accomplished using genetic analysis tools such as restriction fragment length polymorphism-(RFLP) based methods and random amplified polymorphic DNA-(RAPD) based methods. Two animals can be concluded to be of the same strain if the nucleic acid sequences of both animals have similar characteristics when analyzed by RFLP or RAPD.

After being treated with the test agent, the level of NADPH oxidase activity can be determined. The sample can be any type of sample containing a cell or a cellular fraction having NADPH oxidase activity. The sample can be blood, lymph, or synovial fluid. The cell can be a lymphocyte, granulocyte (e.g., neutrophil) or macrophage.

The NADPH oxidase activity determined in the presence of a test agent can be compared with the NADPH oxidase activity determined in the absence of the test agent. Agents that increase NADPH oxidase activity are those that lead to an increase in NADPH oxidase activity by any amount (e.g., a 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200, or more percent increase) when compared with the level of NADPH oxidase activity observed in the absence of the test agent. Agents that decrease NADPH oxidase activity are those that lead to a decrease in NADPH oxidase activity by any amount (e.g., a 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, or more percent decrease) when compared with the level of NADPH oxidase activity observed in the absence of the test agent.

In another embodiment, agents that increase or decrease NADPH oxidase activity can be identified in an assay mixture that includes NADPH oxidase, an activator, and a test agent. In these embodiments, NADPH oxidase activity, determined in the presence of an activator and a test agent, can be compared with the NADPH oxidase activity determined in the presence of the activator without the test agent. As described herein, agents that increase NADPH oxidase activity are those that, when present in the NADPH oxidase assay mixture, lead to an increase in NADPH oxidase activity by any amount (e.g., a 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200, or more percent increase) when compared with the level of NADPH oxidase activity observed in the absence of the test agent, while agents that decrease NADPH oxidase activity are those that, when present in the NADPH oxidase assay mixture, lead to a decrease in NADPH oxidase activity by any amount (e.g., a 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, or more percent decrease) when compared with the level of NADPH oxidase activity observed in the absence of the test agent.

5. Non-DA Rats Containing Heterologous T-cells

The invention provides methods and materials for generating an animal (e.g., a rodent such as a rat or mouse) that has heterologous T-cells in combination with a new form of inducible arthritis (i.e., T-cell induced arthritis; TIA). TIA can be generated in an animal by introducing into the recipient animal, T-cells from a donor animal that has arthritis. The donor and recipient animals can be from different strains or can be members of the same inbred group of animals that differ only with respect to (1) the QTL that contributes to arthritic susceptibility such as the Pia4 QTL or (2) the sequence of the p47phox gene. T-cells can be isolated from an animal using any standard procedures including spleen homogenization. T-cell transfer can be performed using any conventional procedure. An animal with TIA can be used as described herein to identify agents that modify NADPH oxidase activity.

6. Nonhuman Mammals having Deficient NADPH Oxidase Pathways

Another aspect of the invention features methods and materials for providing a nonhuman mammal having a deficient NADPH oxidase pathway, where the nonhuman mammal exhibits symptoms of an autoimmune disease. The mammal may be a monkey, goat, horse, cow, pig, dog, cat, mouse, or rat. The autoimmune disease may be arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, autoimmune uveitis, type I diabetes, bronchial asthma, septic arthritis induced with staphylococci or streptococci, or cardiovascular disease involving vasculitis. For example, the nonhuman mammal may exhibit symptoms of arthritis. The arthritis may be induced by standard techniques known in the art and may be, e.g., adjuvant induced arthritis, CIA, PIA, HIA, avridine induced arthritis, SIA, or OIA.

The deficient NADPH oxidase pathway in the nonhuman mammal may be indicated by a reduced NADPH oxidase activity. The reduced NADPH oxidase activity may be a result of a mutant polypeptide where the mutant polypeptide functions in the NADPH oxidase pathway. For example, the mutant polypeptide may be a GP91PHOX polypeptide, P22PHOX polypeptide, P40PHOX polypeptide, P47PHOX polypeptide, or P67PHOX polypeptide. For example, the mutant polypeptide can be a P47PHOX polypeptide. The mutant P47PHOX polypeptide can contain the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6 with at least two amino acid substitutions. The mutant P47PHOX polypeptide can contain an amino acid sequence having an amino acid residue other than valine at the position that aligns with position 106 of SEQ ID NO:4 or an amino acid residue other than threonine at the position that aligns with position 153 of SEQ ID NO:4. In other embodiments, the reduced NADPH oxidase activity may be a result of a deletion of the gene or locus encoding Ncfl (p47phox). The deletion may be heterozygous or homozygous in the nonhuman mammal. In one embodiment, the nonhuman mammal may be a mouse. For example, the mouse may have the gene for Ncfl (p47phox) knocked out using standard techniques in the art, or the mouse may express one of the mutant P47PHOX polypeptides as described previously (e.g., as a transgenic mouse).

7. Screening of Agents that Delay, Treat, or Prevent Arthritis

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of screening an agent to determine if the agent delays the onset of arthritis. The method includes: (a) providing a nonhuman mammal having a deficient NADPH oxidase pathway; (b) administering to the nonhuman mammal the agent; (c) inducing arthritis in the nonhuman mammal; and (d) determining if the agent delays the onset of arthritis in the nonhuman mammal.

The mammal having a deficient NADPH oxidase pathway may be obtained as described previously. Determining if the agent delays the onset of arthritis may include steps such as: (a) determining a day of onset of arthritis value for the nonhuman mammal; and (b) comparing the day of onset of arthritis value for said nonhuman mammal with a control day of onset of arthritis value. Onset of arthritis can be monitored using a macroscopic scoring system, wherein 1 point is given for each swollen or red toe, 1 point for each swollen midfood, digit, or knuckle, and 5 points for a swollen ankle, yielding a maximum score of 15 per limb and 60 total. The score can be a mean score, additive score, or maximum score. The mammal may be monitored 1 to 4 times a week for 1 to 2 months after induction of arthritis. The control day of onset of arthritis value may be determined by determining a day of onset of arthritis value for a control nonhuman mammal to which the agent has not been administered. The day of onset of arthritis in the nonhuman mammal may be considered delayed if it is later than the control day of onset value. The arthritis may be induced my conventional means and can be adjuvant induced arthritis, CIA, PIA, HIA, SIA, avridine induced arthritis, or OIA.

The invention also provides methods to screen an agent to determine if the agent treats arthritis. The method includes (a) providing a nonhuman mammal having a deficient NADPH oxidase pathway, where the nonhuman mammal exhibits symptoms of an arthritis (e.g., adjuvant induced arthritis, CIA, PIA, HIA, SIA, avridine induced arthritis, or OIA); (b) administering to the nonhuman mammal the agent; and (c) determining if the agent treats arthritis in the nonhuman mammal. Such a determining step may involve (a) calculating an arthritis score in the nonhuman mammal; and (b) comparing the arthritis score with a control arthritis score. The mammal having a deficient NADPH oxidase pathway exhibiting symptoms of arthritis may be obtained as described previously. The control arthritis score may be determined by calculating an arthritis score for a control nonhuman mammal to which the agent has not been administered. The arthritis score may be determined using the macroscopic scoring system described previously, and may be a mean score, additive score, or maximum score. The agent may be determined to treat arthritis if the arthritis score in the nonhuman animal is less than the control arthritis score.

In another embodiment, a method of screening an agent to determine if the agent prevents arthritis is provided. The method includes: (a) providing a nonhuman mammal having a deficient NADPH oxidase pathway; (b) administering to the nonhuman mammal the agent; (c) administering a compound known to induce arthritis to the nonhuman mammal; and (d) determining if the agent prevents arthritis induced by the compound in the nonhuman mammal. Determining if the agent prevents arthritis may include evaluating said nonhuman mammal for symptoms of arthritis. Such an evaluation may occur for a period of time, e.g., for up to 20 days, up to 30 days, up to 50 days, or up to 70 days. Determining if the agent prevents arthritis may include comparing any symptoms of arthritis and their day of onset with the symptoms and day of onset of a control nonhuman mammal to which said agent has not been administered. The macroscopic scoring system as described above may be used in the evaluation and comparison. The compound known to induce arthritis may be an adjuvant, collagen, pristane, hexadecane, squalene, avridine, or oil. Collagen may be type II collagen; the oil may be incomplete Freund's adjuvant; and the adjuvant may be mycobaterial-derived.

The invention will be further described in the following examples, which do not limit the scope of the invention described in the claims.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Animals

Rat (Rattus norvegicus) strains used in the following experiments included the DA strain, which is highly susceptible to PIA, and the E3 strain, which is PIA-resistant. DA and E3 rats were obtained from Zentralinstitut für Versuchstierzucht, Hannover, Germany, and were kept in animal facilities that have climate-controlled environments with 12-hour light/dark cycles. Rats were housed in polystyrene cages containing wood shavings and were fed standard rodent chow and water ad libitum. Rats were free from common pathogens, including the Sendai virus, Hantaan virus, coronavirus, reovirus, cytomegalovirus, and Mycoplasma pulmonis. Animal breeding and experimentation were performed in the same animal facility.

Example 2 Induction and Evaluation of Arthritis

Arthritis was induced in rats at the age of 8 to 12 weeks by intradermal injections of 150 μL of pristane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane; Aldrich, Milwaukee, Wis.) at the bases of the tails. Arthritic development was monitored in all limbs using a macroscopic scoring system. Briefly, 1 point was given for each swollen or red toe, 1 point for each swollen midfoot, digit, or knuckle, and 5 points for a swollen ankle. The maximum score for a limb was 15 points, and the maximum score for a rat was 60 points. Rats were examined from one to four times a week for one month after pristane injection.

For histopathologic analyses, at 31 days after pristane injections, rats were sacrificed, and the hind paws and ankle joints were prepared and analysed as follows. The paws were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, decalcified in EDTA, embedded in paraffin, and then sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and erythrosine as described in Jonsson et al. (1986) J Immunol Methods 88:109-14.

Example 3 Confirmation of Linkage to Arthritis Severity in Congenic Strains

A quantitative trait locus (QTL), denoted Pia4, was found to be associated with PIA and CIA. To identify and isolate genes in the Pia4 QTL that are associated with arthritis, a 10 cM fragment of chromosome 12 from a PIA resistant E3 rat was introgressed into a PIA susceptible DA rat resulting in a DA.E3chr12 congenic rat. Other E3 genes on the 10 cM fragment that were not associated with RA were removed in greater than 10 successive backcrosses with a DA rat. DA littermate rats obtained from F2 intercrosses between DA.E3chr21+/− rats were used as controls. The Pia4 QTL was inherited in a DA additive fashion with DA rats having the arthritis severity promoting allele in the original F2 intercross between E3 and DA rats. Significant phenotypic differences observed when a progeny rat is compared to the control rat could be concluded to have arisen from genetic differences at the Pia4 region.

Arthritis was induced in 20 DA rats, 40 DA.E3chr12+/− rats, and 14 DA.E3chr12−/− rats by injection with pristane, and the development of clinical arthritis was assessed as described earlier. FIG. 1 is a comparison of the clinical arthritis scores determined at day 10, 14, 19, 24, and 28 after pristane injections of DA rats, DA.E3chr12+/− rats, and DA.E3chr12−/− rats. Dramatic differences in arthritis severity were seen between DA littermate controls and DA.E3chr12 congenic rats (p<0.0001). The DA.E3chr12−/− congenic rats were still susceptible to arthritis, but the inflammation was very mild. The incidences of arthritis observed at 31 days after pristane injections were 100% among DA rats, 58% among DA.E3+/− rats, and 36% among DA.E3−/− rats. When sections of rat hind paw ankle joints obtained 31 days after pristane injections were stained with hematoxylin and erythrosine and then examined microscopically at 100× magnification, cell infiltrations into the joints were observed. Although the PIA resistant E3 phenotype afforded by the Pia4 QTL was found to be almost dominant protective, DA progeny rats carrying two E3 alleles of chromosome 12 exhibited even less severe arthritis (p<0.05) than DA progeny rats carrying one E3 allele of chromosome 12.

The E3 derived fragment containing the Pia4 QTL also was found to suppress CIA, HIA, and OIA (see Table 1). Other genes appear involved since E3 rats congenic for DA derived Pia4, (e.g. E3.DA chr12−/− rats) were still resistant to arthritis.

TABLE 1 Susceptibility of the Pia4 congenic rat strain to CIA, OIA, and HIA. The P-value indicates the significance of the difference observed between Pia4 congenic rats and DA rats. No significant difference between DA.E3chr12 +/− and DA.E3chr12 −/− was detected. Number of Arthritis rats studied types Maxscore p-value DA 10 OIA 15.1 ± 4.7 DA.E3chr12 +/− 15 OIA  4.5 ± 1.6 <0.05 DA.E3chr12 −/− 15 OIA  1.2 ± 0.7 <0.05 DA 13 CIA 50.3 ± 3.4 DA.E3chr12 +/− 16 CIA 29.8 ± 4.8 <0.01 DA.E3chr12 −/− 7 CIA 29.4 ± 6.0 <0.01 DA 9 HIA 14.6 ± 2.5 DA.E3chr12 +/− 8 HIA  3.9 ± 2.4 <0.05

Example 4 Sequencing and Physical Mapping

The P1-derived artificial chromosome (PAC) library of the BN rat (RPCI-31) described in Woon et al. (1998) Genomics 50:306-16 was obtained from the Resource Center of the German Human Genome Project (RZPD) (see world wide web at rzpd.de) as DNA pools and arrayed filters (library 712). Positive PAC clones also were obtained from RZPD as well as clones that have DNA inserts corresponding to DNA in the vicinity of Pia4 linked microsatellites (see Gosele et al. (2000) Genomics 69:287-94, world wide web at mdc-berlin.de/ratgenom, and world wide web at world wide web at molgen.mpg.de/˜ratgenome). PAC clones were purified using the Qiagen Large Construction Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) and used for end sequencing with T7 and SP6 primers as described in Woon et al. (1998) Genomics 50:306-16.

The rat p47phox, GTF2i, and GTF2ird cDNA sequences were determined as follows. Publicly available sequences corresponding to rat p47phox (GenBank Accession number AY029167), mouse GTF2i (GenBank Accession number AF017085) and mouse GTF2ird (GenBank Accession number NM_(—)020331) sequences were used for primer design. E3, DA, and DA.E3chr12 RNAs were isolated using RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). First strand cDNAs were synthesized from total RNA using the First-strand cDNA Synthesis Kit (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Uppsala, Sweden). Double stranded cDNA fragments were generated by conventional PCR and then ligated into the pCR4-TOPO TA cloning vector. The resulting plasmid constructs were transformed into competent E. coli (Invitrogen, Paisley, UK), and then purified from E. coli transformants according to conventional alkaline lysis purification. Sequencing was performed using the MegaBACE 1000 (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Uppsala, Sweden) sequencer and the data obtained were analysed using Sequence Analysis 2.1 and SeqMan 4.05.

Example 5 Genotyping and Statistic Analysis

DNA was prepared from toe biopsies and assayed with microsatellite markers by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysed on MegaBACE 1000 (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Uppsala, Sweden). Quantitative data were expressed as mean±SEM, and significance analysis was performed using nonparametric Mann-Whitney test. Significance of frequency data was determined by Chi-square analyses.

Example 6 Results of Physical Mapping and Positional Cloning

To identify genes within the Pia4 QTL that contribute to the PIA resistant phenotype in E3 rats, DA.E3chr12 congenic rats were backcrossed with DA rats, and a large number of congenic progeny rats carrying overlapping Pia4 fragments of different sizes was used in the following experiment. Physical mapping was initiated with a congenic fragment of 1 cM. FIG. 2 is a physical map of the Pia4 region constructed using PAC clones and EST clones. Known microsatellites (d12rat72, d12got45, d12got46 and d12rat26) in the Pia4 region were used to identify PAC carrying inserts corresponding to this region. Results of the Rat EST project at the University of Iowa (see world wide web at ratEST.uiowa.edu) were used to identify EST clones known to contain sequences in the Pia4 region. The end sequences of the PAC clones and primer sequences from EST clones were used in generating the physical map of the Pia4 region. In addition, sequence information from the Pia4 region in rat (PAC clones RP31-78c13, RP31-485f9, RP31-198113, RP31-75g22, RP31-11m22, RP31-391d23 RP31-57j23), from the partially sequenced BAC clones having inserts corresponding to the Pia4 region (see world wide web at hgsc.bcm.tmc.edu/projects/rat/), and sequences from homologous regions in mouse (Genbank Accession numbers NT_(—)029829, AF289665, AF139987 and AF267747; see Kwitek et al. (2001) Genome Res 11:1935-43; Hoogenraad et al. (1998) Genomics 53:348-58; Valero et al. (2000) Genomics 69:1-13) and human (Genbank accession number NT_(—)007867; see Peoples et al. (2000) Am J Hum Genet 66:47-68; Osborne et al (2001) Nat Genet 29:321-5) were assembled to form the Pia4 physical map.

The physical map of the Pia4 region in combination with the arthritis susceptibility of isolated congenic strains identified a minimal region of 300 kilobases required for the PIA resistant phenotype. The 300 kilobase region contained two genes: p47phox and GTF2i. The p47phox gene encodes Neutrophil Cytosolic Factor 1 (NCF1), a subunit of the NADPH complex that produces oxygen radicals as a result of infection (see Volpp et al. (1989) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 86:7195-9). The GTF2i gene encodes Bruton Tyrosine Kinase (BTK)-Associated Protein (BAP-135), a substrate of BTK involved in the B-cell receptor-signalling pathway, see Yang & Desiderio (1997) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 94:604-9.

Example 7 The p47phox E3 Allele has a Dominant Protective Role in Arthritis

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that distinguish the DA and E3 alleles in the Pia4 region were identified by sequencing cDNA using the Pyrosequencing (Pyrosequencing, Uppsala, Sweden) according to protocols supplied by the manufacturer. SNPs were found in the p47phox, GTF2i, GTF2ird1 and Cyln2 (AJ000485) genes.

A comparison of the DA p47phox cDNA and the E3 p47phox cDNA revealed three SNPs (see FIG. 3). All three polymorphisms were base substitutions of which two were non-synonymous and resulted in substitutions at amino acid positions 106 and 153. These sequence polymorphisms included (1) substitution of an adenine with a guanine nucleotide at position 330 in an E3 rat when compared a DA rat (DA/E3; A330G) resulting in replacement of a methionine residue with a valine residue at position 106 (Met106Val); (2) substitution of a thymine with a cytosine nucleotide at position 472 in an E3 rat (DA/E3; T472C) resulting in replacement of a methionine residue with a threonine residue at position 153 (Met153Thr); and (3) substitution of an adenine with a cytosine at nucleotide 1161, a synonymous substitution that did not lead to an amino acid alteration. The sequence of the p47phox cDNA from the DA rat was identical to the published sequence of p47phox (AY029167) from Sprague-Dawley rat.

A comparison of the DA GTF2i cDNA sequence with the E3 GTF2i sequence revealed that the E3 sequence had a nucleotide substitution at position 2992. The thymine nucleotide at position 2992 in the DA sequence was substituted with a cytosine nucleotide in the E3 sequence (DA/E3; T2992C). This substitution occurred in the untranslated region and so did not affect the GTF2i protein sequence.

Similar comparisons of the Cyln2 and GTF2ird1 genes of DA and E3 rats revealed SNPs at nucleotide 4206 (DA/E3: G4206A) in the Cyln2 gene and at nucleotide 2823 (DA/E3: G2823C) in the GTF2ird1 gene.

Example 8 Prevalence of the p47phox Polymorphisms in Inbred and Wild Rats

The sequences of p47phox genes in other inbred rat strains and in wild rats were analysed for the presence of the three polymorphisms in the p47phox E3 allele (Table 2). High degrees of polymorphisms in inbred rats as well as in wild rats were detected. This suggests that these polymorphisms did not result from domestification or from mutations generated in inbred laboratory rats. In fact, the DA and E3 alleles occurred in equal frequency indicating that these alleles were maintained by natural selection.

TABLE 2 Polymorphisms in the p47phox gene identified in DA/E3 inbred rat and wild rat populations. Rat strain SNP 330bp SNP 472bp SNP 1161bp DA DA DA DA E3 E3 E3 E3 ACI E3 E3 E3 BDE E3 E3 DA BDII E3 E3 DA BDIX E3 E3 DA BDV DA DA DA BH DA E3 DA BN DA E3 DA BS DA E3 DA COP E3 E3 E3 DA-mu DA DA DA DXEA E3 E3 E3 DXEB DA DA DA DXEC DA DA DA DXER DA E3 DA F344 DA DA DA GK DA DA DA LE DA DA DA LEW DA DA DA Lew (BM) E3 E3 E3 Lewis.1F DA DA DA LOU7C E3 E3 E3 LXB10 DA DA DA LXB17L DA DA DA LXB17N DA DA DA LXB19 DA E3 DA LXB21 DA DA DA LXB22 DA DA DA LXB24 DA E3 DA LXB26 DA E3 DA LXB27 DA E3 DA LXB3 DA E3 DA LXB30 DA E3 DA LXB8 DA DA DA MNS DA E3 DA MWF E3 E3 DA NAR E3 E3 DA NEDH DA DA DA NZNU E3 E3 E3 OM DA DA DA PVG E3 E3 E3 RNU-rnu E3 E3 E3 SHR E3 E3 E3 SPRD DA DA/E3 DA SPRD-Cu3 DA E3 DA WAG-mu E3 E3 DA WC E3 E3 DA WF DA DA DA WKY DA DA DA KL-1 E3 E3 DA/E3 KL-2 E3 DA/E3 DA/E3 KL-3 DA DA DA KL-4 DA DA DA KL-5 — E3 — KL-6 DA/E3 DA/E3 DA KL-7 DA/E3 DA DA KL-8 DA/E3 DA DA KL-9 E3 DA DA KL-10 DA DA DA KL-11 E3 DA E3 KL-12 DA E3 — KL-13 DA/E3 DA/E3 DA KL-14 E3 DA DA KL-15 E3 DA DA KL-16 E3 DA DA/E3 KL-17 E3 DA DA/E3 KL-18 E3 DA DA JH-1 DA/E3 DA DA/E3 JH-2 DA DA/E3 DA JH-3 DA E3 DA JH-4 DA E3 DA Ax-1 E3 DA E3

A common haplotype present in BN rats included the DA polymorphism at nucleotide 330 and the E3 polymorphism at nucleotide position 472. Previously published crosses between DA and BN rats exhibiting disease conditions similar to multiple sclerosis (see Dahlman et al. (1999) J Immunol 162:2581-8) or arthritis (see Griffiths et al. (2000) Arthritis Rheum 43:1278-89) revealed a locus with identical location as Pia4 suggesting that disease protection is associated with threonine at amino acid 153. Since threonine is a potential phosphorylation site, and since the function of the human NADPH complex is highly regulated through phosphorylation of p47phox, it is likely that activity of P47PHOX and therefore activity of NADPH oxidase is affected by the phosphorylation state of this residue. (See Faust et al. (1995) J Clin Invest 96:1499-505; El Benna et al. (1996) J Biol Chem 271:6374-8; Lal et al. (1999) Biochem J 338:359-66).

Example 9 DA and DA.E3chr12−/− Congenic Rats Exhibited Similar p47phox Expression Levels

Expression of the p47phox gene in the spleens and lymph node tissues of DA and DA.E3chr12 rats was analysed by Northern blot hybridisation. Three DA and three DA.E3chr12−/− rats were subjected to pristane injection. Eight days after pristane injections, 10 μg of total RNA from the spleen and inguinal lymph node were isolated. RNA was separated on an agarose/formaldehyde gel, transferred onto nylon membrane, and fixed by ultraviolet irradiation. The resulting Northern blot was subjected to hybridization with two probes: (1) α³²P-dCTP labeled DNA encoding rat P47PHOX and (2) α³²P-dCTP labeled DNA encoding 36B4-ribosomal protein. Hybridization was performed overnight at 42° C. in Ambion ULTRA hybridization buffer (Ambion, Austin Tex.). After hybridization, the Northern blot was washed according to the manufacturer's instructions, and then subjected to phosphor imaging using the Kodak screen and Imager FX system (Bio-Rad, Hercules Calif., USA). A probe directed against acidic ribosomal protein (Z29530) was used as the control for the total amount of RNA analysed.

No difference in the expression level of p47phox mRNA was detected when DA and DA.E3chr12−/− congenic rats were compared. Therefore, polymorphisms in the p47phox gene rather than differences in the expression level of p47phox accounted for the difference in arthritis severity.

Polypeptide expression of p47phox was analyzed by western blot. Spleen cells were lysed for 2 hours at 4° C. in lysis buffer (3×10⁷ cells/100 μL), 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM CaCl₂, 1 mM MgCl₂, 20 mM Tris pH 7.4, 0.5% triton X-100 (Sigma), 0.25 M sucrose, protease inhibitor tablet (Roche Diagnostics), and 10 μg/mL deoxyribonuclease I (Sigma), and centrifuged at 14000 rpm. Equivalent amounts of total protein in the supernatant, determined by a protein assay kit (BioRad), were subjected to SDS-PAGE using a 10% separation gel. The polypeptides were electrophoretically transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane (Biorad). The membranes were incubated with polyclonal rabbit antibodies to the Ncfl peptide RRS TIR NAQ SIH QRC, biotinylated donkey anti-rabbit IgG (Jacksson Immunoresearch Laboratories), and ExtrAvidin peroxidase conjugate (Sigma). Immunoreactive polypeptide bands were visualized using enhanced chemoluminescence, ECL, reagents, and Hyperfilm (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech).

No difference in polypeptide expression between DA and DA.E3chr12−/− rats was observed.

Example 10 Plasma Levels of COMP and α₁-AGP were Lower in DA.E3chr12 Congenic Rats than in Control Rats

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and α₁-acid glycoprotein (AGP) are two plasma markers that are closely associated with RA as well as PIA. AGP, produced by hepatocytes, is a marker of general inflammatory response, while circulating COMP is the product of cartilage destruction and/or cartilage turnover. At 31 days after pristane injections, levels of AGP and COMP in the serum of DA, DA.E3chr12+/−, and DA.E3chr12−/− rats were determined as follows.

The serum level of AGP was measured in a competitive radioimmunoassay (RIA; see Akerstrom (1985) J Biol Chem 260:4839-44) using a rat α₁-acid glycoprotein (Zivic-Miller Laboratories, Zelienople, Pa.) and a polyclonal anti-rabbit antibody specific for rat α₁-acid glycoprotein (Agrisera, Vännäs, Sweden).

Plasma concentration of COMP was determined by enzyme linked inhibition immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as described in Saxne & Heinegard (1992) Bra J Rheumatoid 31:583-91. Rat COMP was used for coating microtiter plates and for preparing standard curves. Plasma COMP was detected using a polyclonal anti serum generated against rat COMP as the capturing antibody. The polyclonal antiserum was obtained from professor Dick Heinegard.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are bar graphs demonstrating that plasma levels of COMP and AGP in DA.E3chr12 congenic rats were significantly lower than plasma levels of COMP and AGP in DA controls (p<0.005).

Example 11 Oxidative Burst Assay Demonstrating that the Arthritis Severity-Promoting Variant of the p47phox Gene in DA Rats is Linked to Decreased Oxidative Burst

The function of P47PHOX was examined by assessing production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by peritoneal neutrophils. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with 5 mL of 2.4% thioglycollate to elicit recruitment of neutrophils. Sixteen hours after thioglycollate injections, rats were sacrificed, and neutrophils were isolated from the peritoneal cavities as follows. The peritoneal cavities were rinsed with Hank's balanced salt solution (HBS), and the cells obtained were washed twice with HBS and then resuspended at a concentration of 10⁷ cells/mL.

The activity of the NADPH complex as indicated by production of ROS was determined by spectrophotometric detection of cytochrome C reduction (see Lomax et al. (1989) Science 245:409-12; Huang et al (2000) J Leukoc Biol 67:210-5; and Zu et al. (1996) Blood 87:5287-96). Briefly, 5×10⁶ cells were dispensed into each well of a 96 well microtitre plate containing 100 μg of cytochrome C (Sigma C3131) yielding a total volume 100 μL. Activation of NADPH complexes and secretion of superoxide radicals were initiated upon addition of PMA (Sigma P8139) to a concentration of 0.1 μg/mL. Reactions occurred at 37° C., and the absorbance at 550 nm was measured at 1-minute intervals.

FIGS. 5A-D is a set of absorbance curves illustrating production of ROS by DA rats, E3 rats, and Pia4 congenic rats (DA.E3c12+/− and DA.E3c12−/− rats). Production of oxygen radicals was determined from determining the area under the curve. These results demonstrate that the production of ROS is higher in E3 and Pia4 congenic rats than in DA littermates. About three to six rats were examined in each genotypic group.

Unlike human patients with autosomal chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) (see Casimir et al. (1991) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88:2753-7) or mice deficient in functional p47phox (see Jackson et al. (1995) J Exp Med 182:751-8; and Huang et al. (2000) J Leukoc Biol 67:210-5), DA rats were not completely lacking in functional NADPH complexes or ROS production. While E3 rats and DA.E3chr12 congenic rats exhibited maximum cytochrome C reduction (OD₅₅₀=0.2) 1000 seconds after PMA stimulation, levels of ROS production in DA rats were slower and did not attain maximum cytochrome C reduction even after 3000 seconds. Therefore, the arthritis severity-promoting variant of the p47phox gene in DA rats is linked to decreased oxidative burst.

Example 12 NAPDH Inhibition in DA.E3chr12 Rats

The following experiment was performed to determine if the protective effect of the Pia4 QTL is accounted for by the presence of polymorphisms in the p47phox gene leading to decreased free radical production from NADPH complexes.

DA and DA.E3chr12 rats were given diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI, C₁₂H₈ICl, MW=314.6), a potent inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and flavoenzymes such as NADPH oxidase. DPI had been used in vivo in mice to inhibit potassium peroxochromate-induced arthritis (see, Miesel et al., (1996) Free Radic Biol Med 20:75-81). Daily intraperitoneally administration of 2.8 μmol/kg weight of a mouse (i.e., 880 μg/kg) was found to reduced arthritis by 50 percent.

In this experiment, DPI was administered at a dosage of 1.25 μmol DPI/kg weight of a rat (i.e., 0.4 mg/kg weight of a rat). Assuming that each rat had a mean weight of 225 g, about 0.08 mg of DPI in 0.5 mL of DMSO/PBS was given to each rat. For administration, 50 mg of DPI was dissolved in 250 mL DMSO/PBS. About 0.5 mL was injected intraperitoneally into rats on day 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, and 21.

Arthritis was induced in all rats at the age of 8 to 12 weeks by intradermal injections of 150 μL of pristane at the bases of the tails. Arthritis development was monitored in all limbs. Results presented in FIGS. 6 and 7 reveal that inhibition of NADPH oxidase with DPI lead to increased severity of arthritis. Therefore, NADPH oxidase activity has a protective role in development of PIA.

Example 13 Transfer of ConA Activated T-cells from a DA Rat Induced Arthritis in E3 Rats and DA.E3chr12 Congenic Rats

To determine if the Pia4 QTL controls the priming of arthritogenic T-cells or is involved in events that occur subsequent to the onset of arthritis, reciprocal spleen T-cell transfer experiments were performed using DA littermate controls, DA.E3chr12 +/− rats, and DA.E3chr12−/− rats as donors or recipients of spleen cells activated with the T-cell mitogen ConA. Three rats from each group were used as donors, and three rats from each group were used as recipients.

Donor rats were injected with 500 μL of pristane. Twelve days after injections, rats were sacrificed, and their spleens were removed and homogenized for spleen T-cell isolation. Spleen cells were activated with ConA prior to transfer to recipient rats. Briefly, spleen T-cells were activated by culturing them at a cell density of 4×10⁶ cells/mL for 48 hours at 37° C. in DMEM medium (Paisley Scotland), supplemented with streptomycin, D-penicillin, HEPES, β-mercaptoethanol, 5% fetal calf serum, and 3 μg/mL Con A. Spleen cells were then harvested, resuspended in PBS, and injected intraperitoneally into recipient rats at a concentration of 35×10⁶ cells/animal.

Arthritis onset was detected at day 5 after T-cell transfer, and the highest arthritis scoring was obtained at day 15. FIG. 8 is a bar graph illustrating that transfer of ConA activated T-cells from a DA rat gave rise to severe arthritis in E3 rats, in DA.E3chr12+/− rats, and in DA.E3chr12−/− rats. In addition, only ConA activated T-cells from a DA rat were arthritogenic. Therefore, the p47phox polymorphisms are involved in the generation of arthritogenic T-cells, but do not appear to operate significantly in the joints since the DA.E3chr12 congenic rats were susceptible to arthritis when subjected to DA T-cell transfers. Since P47PHOX functions in the spleen before T cell transfer, it is likely that, through its role in generating ROS, P47PHOX affects T-cell/antigen presenting cell interaction in the lymphoid organs.

Example 14 Evaluation of Alkanes as NADPH Oxidase Activators in the Oxidative Burst Assay

Saturated alkanes molecules C8-C19 (n-octane, nonane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, pentadecane, hexadecane, heptadecane, octadecane, and nonadecane) were tested for their ability to activate the NADPH complex as described below. The unsaturated fatty acids C14:1-C24:1 (myristoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, 11c-eicosenoic acid, arachidonic acid, erucic acid, and neuronic acid) and squalenee (Sigma) were also tested. The oils were solubilized by dilution in cyclodextrin (100 mM in PBS).

Isolation of Peritoneal Neutrophils and Macrophages

5 mL thioglycolate (2.4%) was injected intraperitoneally in E3 rats to elicit recruitment of neutrophils 16 hours before sacrifice. 40 mL PBS+hepes (1%) was injected into the peritoneum and the cell suspension extracted. Red blood cells were lysed with 0.84% NH₄Cl, and WBC were washed in PBS and resuspended in PBS at a concentration of about 10⁷ cells/mL.

Culture of Peritoneal Neutrophils and Macrophages

Human myeloma cell line HL60 was cultured in Dulbeccos complete medium with Hepes, 10% Fetal calf serum, and Penicillin Streptomycin. HL60 cells differentiated to neutrophil-macrophages six days after addition of 1.25% DMSO. The cells were spun down at 1200 rpm for 5 minutes and then washed with PBS twice. The cells were then resuspended in PBS to a concentration of about 10⁷ cells/mL.

Oxygen Burst Analysis through WST-1 Assay

10 μL of each of the oils to be tested was added with 9 μL of WST1 to the wells of a 96 well microtitre plate. 10⁶ cells/mL (100 μL of 10⁷ cells/mL) were added to each well and the color change measured in a spectrophotometer at 450 nm at 37° for 60 minutes (one measurement/min).

Cytochrome C assay

10 μL each of the oils to be tested were added to the wells of a 96 well microtitre plate. 50 μL of cytochrome C (4 mg/mL) and 5×10⁶ cells/well (50 μL of 10⁷ cells/mL) were added to each well and the absorbance measured in a spectrophotometer at 550 nm at 37° C. for 60 minutes (one measurement/minute).

FACS Based Burst Assay

Cells (2-5×10⁵ well) are preincubated for 10 minutes at 37° C. with 1 μM dihydrorhodamine (DHR) 123 in a 96 well plate in total volume of 200 μL. 10 μL each of the compounds (e.g., oils) to be tested are added to the wells and incubated a further 20 minutes at 37° C. Production of reactive oxidants is assayed as formation of the fluorescent dye rhodamine 123 (RH) from dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) using flow cytometry.

Results

Saturated alkane molecules were tested with the oxidative burst assay to determine activators of the NADPH complex. The assays were tested in both peritoneal cells from E3 rat after thioglycolate recruitment of neutrophils (FIG. 9A) and HL60 cells (FIG. 9B). The WST-1 test indicates changes in the extracellular concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Both cell types demonstrates the same general trends. For example, in all assays, undecane was a potent activator.

The arthritis-inducing effects of the oils was examined by injecting the oils intradermally into DA rats. The scoring shows that oils more than about 14 carbons long induce arthritis, while shorter carbon chains do not induce arthritis (FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C). Note that p<0.05 for alkanes shorter than C15 compared to C19. All statistics evaluated with student's t-test. N=4 for all groups.

Example 15 Prevention and Ameliorative Treatment of Arthritis with NADPH-Activating Oils

1. Treatment and/or Prevention of Pristane-Induced Arthritis with Undecane in vivo.

Groups of DA rats were injected intradermally at the base of the tail with 200 μL of the oils as indicated below:

-   -   Undecane day −10, Pristane day 0;     -   Olive oil day −10, Pristane day 0;     -   Undecane day −5, Pristane day 0;     -   Undecanol day −5, Pristane day 0;     -   Olive oil day −5, Pristane day 0;     -   Undecane day 5, Pristane day 0; and     -   Olive oil day 5, Pristane day 0.

The rats were scored every other day starting at day 11 according to the extended scoring system where every red or swollen toe or mid foot scored one point, and a red and swollen ankle scored five points, yielding a total of 15 points/limb and 60 points/rat. Olive oil and undecanol were used as controls.

2. In vivo Treatment of Hexadecane-Induced Arthritis with Hexadecene

Groups of DA rats were injected i.d. at the base of the tail as follows:

-   -   Hexadecane 200 μL day 0;     -   Hexadecene 200 μL day 0;     -   Hexadecene 200 μL day −5, Hexadecane 200 μL day 0;     -   Olive oil 200 μL day −5, Hexadecane 200 μL day 0;     -   Hexadecene 200 μL day +5, Hexadecane 200 μL day 0; and     -   Olive oil day 200 μL +5, Hexadecane 200 μL day 0.

The rats were scored as indicated above. Olive oil was used as a control.

Results

Undecane was examined for its potential preventive effect on the development or severity of PIA. Rats were treated with undecane on day −10, day −5, or day +5, and undecanol on day −5 (as a control). All rats were injected with pristane on day 0 (FIG. 11A). There was a significant difference between both the additive score (FIG. 11B) and the maximum score (FIG. 11C) for rats treated with undecane on day −5 and the rats that were treated with olive oil on day −5. There was also a significant difference for both the additive score (FIG. 11B) and the maximum score (FIG. 11C) between the treatment with undecane on day −5 and the treatment with undecanol on day −5. Note also that the rats that were treated with undecane on day +5 had a slightly higher score than the rats that were treated with undecane on day −10 or day −5 before injection with pristane.

All statistics were evaluated with student's t-test. p<0.05 for the difference in both additive score and maximum score for undecane at day −5 and olive oil at day −5. p=0.05 for the difference in additive score and p<0.05 for the difference in maximum score between undecane at day −5 and undecanol at day −5. N=6 for all groups except group 4 where N=12.

A similar experiment was also performed to evaluate the protective effect of hexadecene on arthritis-induction by hexadecane. Rats were treated with hexadecene either on day −5, day +5, or were not treated with hexadecene. All rats were injected with hexadecane on day 0, except group 3. Olive oil was used as control. The arthritis scores demonstrate a significant difference between the arthritis-inducing capacities of the two substances (FIGS. 12A, 12B and 12C). Hexadecane induces arthritis while hexadecene does not. The difference in scores between the rats that were treated with hexadecene on day −5 and day +5 and the control rats is also significant. None of the rats treated with hexadecene developed arthritis.

Groups 3 and 4 were injected only with either hexadecane or hexadecene. All statistics were evaluated with student's t-test. p<0.05 for the difference in both additive score and maximum score for treatment day −5 and day +5 against no treatment (group 4). p<0.05 for the difference in both additive score and maximum score between hexadecane and hexadecene. There is also a significant difference between the groups that were injected with hexadecene and olive oil day +5 (p<0.01 in the additive score and p<0.05 in maximum score). N=6 for all groups except group 3 and 4 where N=4.

Discussion

When oils were injected into the base of the tails of DA rats to determine their arthritis—inducing capacities, alkanes longer than about 14 carbons induced arthritis, while shorter ones did not. It is interesting to note that a comparison of the activity of the oils in the oxygen burst studies and the arthritis induction studies indicates three possible mechanisms for participation of the oils in the induction and/or treatment of arthritis. For example, in the oxygen burst studies, undecane activated the NADPH complex, but did not induce arthritis in the tail-injection arthritis studies, while hexadecane not only activated the complex but also induced arthritis. A comparison of the two experiments demonstrates that the hexa-, hepta-, and octa-decanes activate the NADPH complex according to the WST-1 assay and also induce arthritis. Pentadecane (15C), on the other hand, did not activate the NADPH complex, but did induce arthritis, suggesting a third mechanism for participation in the induction of the disease.

A similar relationship has been seen with hexadecane and hexadecene, and pristane and phytol, where hexadecane and pristane induce arthritis, while hexadecene and phytol do not (Lorenzen (1999) Scand. J. Immunol. 49:45-50). All four substances activate the NADPH complex. The difference between hexadecane and hexadecene is a single carbon-carbon double-bond in hexadecene, while pristane and phytol differ by an acidic group. While not being bound by any theory, it is possible that an increased polarity facilitates the metabolism of the hexadecene and phytol, and therefore prevents them from inducing arthritis. Molecules with lower polarity cannot be metabolised as easily, and may remain longer in tissues, inducing an immune response.

We investigated the preventive capacities of both hexadecene and undecane. None of the rats treated with hexadecene showed any symptoms of arthritis whether they were injected with hexadecene at day −5 or day +5. Further, these experiments verify that hexadecane induces arthritis, while hexadecene does not. Pre-treatment with undecane may be more protective if done at a longer time point before induction of arthritis with pristane. For example, treatment with undecane at day +5 did not show as significant a preventive effect as at day −10 or at day −5.

Example 16 In vivo Distribution of Alkane Oils

[1-14C]-Hexadecane and [1-14C]-Oleic acid were purchased from Amersham. The oils were injected intradermally at the base of the tail in 18 DA rats (200 μL). At day 10, the organs (lymph nodes, spleen, liver and kidney) of three rats from each group were collected. The organs were weighed and homogenized in a total volume of 2 mL PBS and frozen. The same procedure was followed at day 20 and at day 30. 1 mL of the homogenised samples was then added to 10 mL Ready Safe (Beckman) and counted in a beta counter. The distribution of radioactive labelled hexadecane to the lymph nodes was also inspected at earlier time points (day 3, day 6, day 10, and day 13).

Results

The distribution of hexadecane in vivo was examined by injecting radioactively-labeled hexadecane i.d. at the base of the tail in DA rats. Radioactively-labeled oleic acid was administered in the same manner. Scoring of the rats showed that only the rats injected with hexadecane had arthritis (FIG. 13). The arthritis was acute and had a symmetric involvement of both hind and front paws. Analyses of the different organs collected (LN, spleen, kidney and liver) in the β-counter showed that the oils were exclusively accumulated in the lymph nodes at all time points measured (FIG. 14). Hexadecane seems to be distributed to the lymph nodes to a higher extent than oleic acid. The distribution of the oils to the lymph nodes appeared to decrease with time with no increase in the other organs analyzed.

The distribution of hexadecane to the lymph nodes at earlier time points was also measured as described. An increase in the accumulation of hexadecane in the lymph nodes until day 10 was observed.

The distribution of radioactively-labeled hexadecane had previously been investigated, showing that 14C-labeled hexadecane is disseminated predominantly to the lymph nodes (Kleinau et al., (1995). Int. J Immunopharmac., 17(5):393-401.).

The experiments indicate that the hexadecane oil exerts a pro-arthritogenic effect within the lymph nodes. The injection of both radioactively-labeled hexadecane and radio-labeled oleic acid suggests that oleic acid does not induce arthritis because it is not distributed to the lymph nodes to as high an extent as the hexadecane. Furthermore, hexadecane slowly accumulated in the lymph nodes with a maximum at day 10, correlating with the normal onset of the disease. After day 10, the concentration of the hexadecane oil slowly decreased (FIG. 15).

Example 17 Treatment of Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis (EAE) in vivo

Groups of DA rats were injected at the base of the tail with 200 μL phytol at day −10, day −5, and day +5. Olive oil was used as a control. At day 0, all rats were treated (immunized) with 200 μL SCH (DA spinal cord homogenate, to induce EAE) i.d. at the base of the tail. The rats were then scored according to the following scale for 40 days:

-   -   0=Normal     -   1=Tail weakness     -   2=Tail paralysis     -   3=Tail paralysis and mild waddle     -   4=Tail paralysis and severe waddle     -   5=Tail paralysis and paralysis of one limb     -   6=Tail paralysis and paralysis of a pair of limbs     -   7=Tetra-paresis     -   8=Pre-morbid or dead.

EAE began to appear around day 9. The results show a significant difference in both additive score (FIG. 16A) and maximum score (FIG. 16B) between the rats treated with phytol and the control rats at day −10 and at day +5 (p<0.05).

All statistics were evaluated with students' T test. p<0.05 for the difference in maximum score between treatment with phytol and treatment with olive oil at day −10 and day +5. Note that N=6 for all groups.

In both EAE and PIA, the SCH to induce EAE and the pristane to induce PIA were injected intradermally at the base of the tail. The disease onset generally occurred in a few weeks. Potential activators of the NADPH complex may alter the proliferation of auto reactive T-cells and reduce the incidence, rate of onset, and severity of the diseases.

Example 18 Effect of Route of Administration of Phytol on Treatment of PIA

Groups of DA rats were treated with phytol according to one of the following treatment regimens at day −5 and at day +5. All rats were injected with pristane (200 μL) at day 0 intradermally at the base of the tail. Phytol was administered to groups of rats as follows:

-   -   25 μL phytol intranasally (i.n.);     -   200 μL phytol intraperitoneally (i.p.);     -   200 μL phytol intradermally at the base of the tail (i.d.); and     -   1 mL phytol per os (p.o.).

The rats were scored from day 9 using the extended scoring system (as discussed previously).

The experiment demonstrated an ameliorating and preventive effect of i.d. administration. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intranasal (i.n.) routes of administration also demonstrated ameliorative and preventive effects. (See FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C). Note that the intranasal group was skewed by one rat that exhibited severe arthritis, while the three other rats in the group were protected.

Example 19 Collagen Induced Arthritis in Ncfl-deficient Mice

Animals

Mice (B6.Cg-m +/+ Lepr (db), formerly known as C57BL/6J-m +/+ Lepr^(db)) deficient for Ncfl because of a point mutation in the splice site for exon 8 (Huang et al., (2000) J. Leukoc. Biol. 67:210-215.) were purchased from the Jackson Laboratory (Maine, USA). The mice were backcrossed to B10.Q (originally from Professor Jan Klein, Tübingen, Germany) for two generations to yield the Q haplotype in MHC and to lose the leptin receptor (lepr) defect. B10.Q Ncfl +/− were intercrossed for the Collagen Induced Arthritis (CIA) experiments in order to obtain littermate control animals. All arthritis experiments were approved by local (Malmö/Lund, Sweden) ethical committee license M7-01.

Induction and Evaluation of Arthritis

Arthritis was induced in all mice at the age of 9-15 weeks by an intradermal injection at the base of the tail of 150 μg rat CII (collagen II) emulsified in complete Freunds adjuvant (CFA; Difco, Detroit, Mich.) at day 0. At day 35, the mice were given a booster injection at the same location of 50 μg rat CII in Freunds incomplete adjuvant (IFA). Arthritis development was monitored in all four limbs using a macroscopic scoring system. Briefly, 1 point was given for each swollen or red toe, 1 point for each swollen midfoot, digit, or knuckle, and 5 points for a swollen ankle, yielding a maximum score per limb of 15 and 60 total. The mice were examined 1 to 4 times a week for 2 months after immunization. At day 40, serum was obtained through tail bleeding and kept at −20° C. until assayed.

Determination of Serum Levels of COMP

Serum concentration of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) was determined using an enzyme linked inhibition immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Rat COMP was used to coat the microtitre plates and to prepare the standard curve for each plate. Plasma COMP was detected by using a polyclonal antiserum raised against rat COMP (generously provided by Professor Dick Heinegard) as capturing antibody.

Antibody Response

Antibodies against rat cartilage in plasma were analysed with ELISA in 96 well plates (Costar, Cambridge, Mass.), coated overnight at 4° C. with 50 μL/well of PBS containing 10 μg/mL of rat collagen II. All washings were performed using Tris-buffered saline (NaCl 1.3M, Tris 0.1M, pH 7,4) containing 0.1% Tween20 (Tris/Tween). The plasma was diluted in PBS/0.1% Tween and analyzed in duplicate. The amounts of bound IgG antibodies were estimated after incubation with a donkey anti-mouse IgG coupled to peroxidase (Jackson Immunoresearch, Westgrove, Pa.) and ABTS as substrate, followed by detection in a SpectraMax (Molecular Devices). The relative amount of antibodies in plasma was determined by comparison with a positive control of an anti collagen II standard.

Results

In order to determine the role of defects or deficiencies of functional Ncfl and/or the NADPH oxidase complex on arthritis, the development of CIA (collagen induced arthritis) in Ncfl deficient B10.Q mice was investigated. Wild type B10.Q mice normally develop a mild/medium-severe arthritis, with onset after booster immunization (Svensson et al. (1998) Clin. Exp. Immunol. 111:521-526). The results indicate both an earlier onset (FIG. 19) and increased severity of arthritis (P<0.001) (FIGS. 18A, 18B, 18C) in Ncfl deficient mice as compared to B10.Q mice. Mice heterozygous for the defect Ncfl showed a milder arthritis with later onset than the homozygous deficient mice (P<0.005).

The quantification of serum levels of COMP (Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein) is regarded as a measurement of the cartilage erosion of peripheral joints. Serum COMP was highly elevated (P<0.0001) in the Ncfl −/− mice as compared to Ncfl +/− and wild type controls (FIG. 20). Furthermore, in the Ncfl deficient mice there was a strong antibody response against collagen II at day 40 after the first immunization (FIG. 21).

Example 20 Distribution in the Lymph Nodes of 14C-hexadecane After Injection of Hexadecene at day −5

An experiment was performed to determine if oils compete for available space in the lymph nodes and if such a competition was the reason for the preventive effects of pre-treatment with hexadecene and undecane. At day −5, DA rats were injected with one of the following amounts of hexadecene: 0 μL, 50 μL, 100 μL, or 200 μL. At day 0, all rats were injected intradermally with 14C-hexadecane at the base of the tail. At day 10, the rats were sacrificed and the lymph nodes were collected and placed in PBS, homogenized, and frozen. 1 mL of the homogenate was then transferred to Ready Safe (Beckman) and analysed in a β-counter (Beckman).

The amount of arthritis inducing hexadecane in draining lymph nodes was not affected by larger amounts of protective hexadecene. These results indicate that there is no competition for space in the draining lymph nodes that is of importance for the protective effect of the oil.

Example 21 CIA in Rats Treated with Phytol

DA rats were treated according to one of the following alternatives: (1) 200 μL phytol intra-dermal at the base of the tail at day −10; (2) 200 μL phytol intra-dermal at the base of the tail at day −5; (3) 200 μL phytol intra-peritoneal at day −5 and day +5; or (4) control untreated. CIA was induced in all animals at day 0 by injecting 150 μL of collagen II dissolved in 75 μL 0.1 M Acetic acid and emulsified in 75 μL IFA. The rats were scored from day 10 using the extended scoring system (see above).

Both intra-peritoneal and intra-dermal treatment with phytol prevented development of arthritis in the CIA rat model (FIG. 22).

Example 22 Treatment of active PIA with Phytol or Undecane

Groups of DA rats were injected with pristane at day 0. The pristane (150 μL) was injected intra-dermal at the base of the tail. The rats were scored from day 9 using the extended scoring system (see above). Then, the rats were treated at day 21 and at day 26 with one of the following alternatives: (1) 200 μL phytol intra-peritoneal; (2) 200 μL phytol intra-dermal at the base of the tail; (3) 200 μL undecane intra-peritoneal; (4) 200 μL undecane intra-dermal at the base of the tail; or (5) control untreated.

All the phytol and undecane treatments were effective against active arthritis in the PIA rat model (FIGS. 23A, 23B).

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

It is to be understood that while the invention has been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A method for treating a mammal having arthritis, wherein said method comprises: (a) administering a composition consisting essentially of phytol, as an active ingredient, to said mammal to reduce the severity of an arthritis symptom in said mammal, and (b) detecting, after said administering step, a reduction in the severity of an arthritis symptom in said mammal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said phytol is administered orally, intra-dermally, intra-peritoneally, or intra-nasally to said mammal.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said phytol is administered orally to said mammal.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said phytol is administered intra-dermally to said mammal.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said phytol is administered intra-peritoneally to said mammal.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said phytol is administered intra-nasally to said mammal.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting step comprises assessing inflammation in an extremity of said mammal.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said extremity is a foot.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said method comprises identifying an effective dose of phytol before said administering step.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said method comprises recording the detection of said reduction in the severity of said arthritis symptom in said mammal. 